Primates are highly intelligent and social animals. Most captive environments cannot meet their complex social and psychological needs, and pet primates are often kept chained or confined in small enclosures.

(4)

A number of privately owned nonhuman primates have attacked humans and other animals, or have escaped from their enclosures to freely and dangerously roam the community.

(5)

Over 40 percent of the 234 primate species are now threatened with extinction, and primate pet ownership does not contribute to the conservation of the species.

3.

Addition of nonhuman primates to definition of prohibited wildlife species

Section 2(g) of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371(g)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end or any non-human primate.